Running, An Analogy

Running has taught me so many lessons that parlay into real estate. I started running in high school. Coming from a small school and growing amongst brothers and boy cousins, I had the benefit of being a big fish in a small fish tank. This gave me the confidence to believe this was something I was good at. I put in some work to get my speed and distance. I hit the pause button on fitness for many years until 6 years ago when I began to feel unsettled in my life. I joined a running club (RUN365) and ran my first half marathon across the Golden Gate Bridge in 2013. The experience was exhilarating and I knew that I needed to make running a regular part of my life. I've learned some big lessons in the last few years.

Good Souls Are Out There -- I Go For The Camaraderie
In high school, I still remember a cross country track meet where I had mistook the finish line to be much closer than anticipated. I went in an all out sprint and stopped once realizing I was mistaken. A fellow runner paused for a moment and urged me to keep going. I still think about that kind act today. Who was that stranger and why did she do that? I see these kind acts in real estate. We have like minded agents that help agents. I still can't believe how lucky I have been to come across some good souls who have given me their opinions and mentorship along the way. I hope to be helpful to someone in my community.

Embrace The Moments - Bad & Good
Along the way, I have encountered some adventures. I was once was running around Lake Merritt and saw a Canadian goose flying low from a distance with the trajectory of flying into my pathway. I thought there was no way that it was going to hit me. It did. I didn't know whether laugh or cry. For some odd reason, I've fallen 3 times this year - no broken bones just scraped palms and I have been humbled each time. Hint: Watch out for muddy spots and changes in terrain. This sounds ridiculous, but I'm pretty amazed about how quickly the body can heal.

My best half marathon time was a San Jose race - I tapped a fellow runner on the shoulder and told him I was going to keep up with him for as long as I could. I got a personal best with a 1:50 time!  On my last race (Big Sur 2016) - there was something glorious starting in the early hours in the pitch dark. By the time the sun started rising up the coast - a line of taiko drummers were set above a cliff setting the pace for the rest of the race. There was a beautiful peace that came over me. It brings chills down my spine just thinking about it.

Real estate has its challenges for sure - but more than any other career that I have experienced - I get to enjoy many glorious moments. Moments of success when our offer gets accepted, receiving offers from a great Buyer for my Sellers, moments of knowing that my clients are "my people", and the list goes on. Like my running journey, real estate has a richness to it.

Just Do it
On lazy days, I find myself pushing back on running. Without fail - getting into my running clothes is my step one. Everything else falls into place. Like any career, real estate has its moments. I have to get out of my head and put myself out there - connect and grow. My first step is to write my list and then take to the races.

For the Love Of It
After a few years of running, I suffered a hip flexor injury. I learned that my running form was off in many ways. Not only did I need treatment - but I needed to make big adjustments in how often I was picking up my feet, how many hips were angled, and how my feet struck the ground. I was fortunate to have come across a running coach who gave me thorough assessment. For the past 2 years, I've been trying to work on my form - however have admittedly been disappointed in my speed and had continued to question my form. 

When you want something - you have to go for it. Finally this year, I signed up for a 6 month treatment program in the Laurel at The Source Chiropractic and recently had another running assessment this past July. I am happy to report that my form has improved and my body has responded well to adjustments.  I need to work on my foot landing. I am feeling motivated. I run for the sake of running and I don't care about speed. Back to the basics - running is a big stress reliever and sometimes I can catch a true moment of flow. I do it for the love of it. 

The same goes for real estate. I have stellar periods where business pours in and sometimes there are the milder moments. Rather than obsessing about stats, I like to stay in the present and try to enjoy each client and project. I know when to consult with others. If you or someone are in need of real estate support, please let me know. I'll go the extra mile (I could not resist).